Northwest, Delta Execs Push Airline Merger

The CEOs of Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines told Congress today that fewer than 1,000 jobs will be lost if their companies merge.

Job losses would only affect positions in the corporate headquarters - accounting and finance, for instance - Delta's Richard Anderson told the House Judiciary Committee.

Both executives defended the proposed merger to skeptical committee members and others from a special House anti-trust taskforce, citing skyrocketing fuel prices and international competition as major reasons for combining the airlines.

"This merger gives us the ability to compete and win," Anderson said.

Both executives also vowed no layoffs of pilots and other front-line workers, but some labor union leaders complained that the companies have refused to put their pledge in writing.

The two companies' pilot groups are still in contract negotiations. Delta pilots support the merger, while Northwest pilots have raised serious concerns about what the new company would do to their seniority status.
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